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Beijing wants dogs off the menu during Olympics
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by JeffHuang | July 10, 2008 at 02:24 pm
979 views | 44 Recommendations | 14 comments
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I have heard many horrifying stories about the stuff they eat in China. The worst is definitely raw monkey brains. I know I shouldn't be judging them because who is it to say that eating something is wrong and eating something is right. I am sure some cultures would think of us as disgusting for eating beef. Anyhow, dogs will be off the menu during the Olympics.
The campaign recalls efforts by South Korea – where dog meat is highly popular – to ban its consumption during the 1988 Seoul Olympics after fierce criticism from western animal rights groups.
Though little used in local Beijing dishes, dog meat has long been available in the capital at Korean restaurants and those offering the cuisines of southern Chinese provinces. Though the government has not specified any punishments for defiant dog-servers, the Olympic instruction is having some effect.
This is not the first time "non-traditional" Western food has been removed from restaurants during the Olympics as South Korea had a similar ban during the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
In an unusual Chinese campaign against canine-based cuisine, Beijing has called on local hotels and restaurants to stop serving dog meat during the Olympic Games next month.
The move is part of a broad drive by the Chinese capital to present its best possible face during the games. It reflects concerns among senior officials that the sight of roast or stewed dog might offend visitors from western nations.
In a low-profile order issued recently in the name of the municipal food safety office, the capital’s catering industry association was told to “advocate” to its members that they “suspend use of dog meat dishes during the Olympic period”.
It is still unclear if this is a permanent ban or just during the Olympics, but with the Seoul Olympics experience, dogs will be back on the menu after the Olympics (dogs are still being served in Korea). Personally I think this is just a temporary "act" for the Westerners. Everything will be back to normal from the pollution to the casual spitting on the streets after the Olympics. The Olympics was a chance for China to revolutionize themselves and become more of a "modern" society. But try changing the cultural norms of a billion people in a few months. It cannot be done.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (14)
at 14:35 on July 10th, 2008
JeffHuang, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Wow, I don't really have a comment for this. I have never been to China and I'm not sure I would enjoy the cuisine if I ever do go there.
at 15:18 on July 10th, 2008
JeffHuang, I like this story. It's good stuff. Just for the record your not likely to find dog being served in most of the restaurants that would be visited during a stay in Beijing. There are many wonderful places to eat and a large choice of cuisines to choose from beside the local fare.
at 16:26 on July 10th, 2008
JeffHuang, good stuff.
at 16:31 on July 10th, 2008
Personally, it seems somewhat silly to me, but I guess they have a point.
So, what will come off the London menus that might offend foreigners
[chuckle]
at 16:38 on July 10th, 2008
Agreed. I had a heated argument with my friend over this issue before. I said that there is nothing wrong with eating dogs. It just seems weird because in our culture we don't see dogs as food. Don't get me wrong, I will never eat dogs myself, but I just don't think we should be judging their cultural practices like that.
at 16:47 on July 10th, 2008
Obviously the people writing this stuff haven't been to Beijing. Dog is extremely hard to find in restaurants here, and it's very expensive when you do find it. The breed they use here is one particular variety which is bred for its meat.
The restaurant scene here is simply amazing, with a huge variety of cuisines from all over the world, as well as from every province of China. It's hard to justify cooking at home, as one can eat cheaply and very, very well.
at 20:07 on July 10th, 2008
JeffHuang, I like this story. It's good stuff. Amazing what some will eat, though I am certain Dog is a meal, not a lot of chinese, except the poorest would ever eat.
at 20:27 on July 10th, 2008
They should also ban dogs from entering and living in Beijing. Which would then mean that HuJinTao and his entire party of dogs would have to go.
at 22:01 on July 10th, 2008
JeffHuang, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 22:45 on July 10th, 2008
Yeahhh i totaly agree. Especially when Olympics is about the world coming together with no boundries to compete in events. I don't see why food should be banned, maybe some people DO see it as a chance to try out the "exotic" cusines. But I guess it's all to protect China's own "image" so they don't seem like ruthless butchers : p
at 23:12 on July 10th, 2008
JeffHuang, I like this story. It's good stuff.
We eat Cows, Lambs, Chicken and so on, why not Dogs and Cats as well! West Africa eats then to, it is far better than starving!! I personally prefect Locus, especially Fried! After all the French eat Frog legs and their Cuisine is internationally accepted, especially the Escargo, snails in case any one does not know, I like them!
at 12:43 on July 11th, 2008
I don't think they should have to bend over backwards for the sake of a few squeamish Westerners. As far as I know we don't make any menu changes during North American Olympics. When in Rome...
at 00:13 on July 12th, 2008
How would one even know what/ if what there eating is what it is? K.
at 09:59 on August 7th, 2008
I feel sad for the dogs and cats in China. I do know that paradigms are different in every culture. But I would never visit China or any of the other Asian countries for fear that they'd sneak dog or cat in a Chicken or Beef dish. I have had friends who had visit china and had been tricked into eating dog and cat and believe me they were mortified. How they know they said that the patron that did the serving confessed to them that they ate dog.